The Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act is a recently introduced bill that aims to provide permanent federal protection for bison, grizzly bears, and gray wolves.
Clément Bardot, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>; Jack Dykinga, Public domain; Ashley98lee, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
This legislation highlights the deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological importance of these species to Indigenous communities as well as the natural ecosystem.
It would provide permanent protection for all three species, making it illegal to hunt or harm them, with certain exceptions for conservation or scientific purposes and livestock protection, as well as for indigenous cultural and religious practices.
This bill represents a broader effort to address historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples in the U.S., building on President Biden’s 2021 executive order that elevated Indigenous knowledge and participation in federal policy decisions.
It aims to repair ecological and cultural damage caused by policies that once pushed these species toward extinction.
The bill is likely to face significant resistance, but it seems to be a part of a growing bipartisan interest in wildlife protection and Indigenous rights, which is very exciting for the future.